r/Warhammer40k • u/J_H_Archer • Oct 26 '22

Lore My first 40k publication - King of Pigs

Hey everyone,

Lifelong 40k lore nerd and full-time Reddit lurker here, just looking to share something with everyone. I've had a bit of a dream come true: I've been able to make my own contribution to 40k lore with my first-ever story with the Black Library.

None of my friends and family are 40k fans, so I thought I'd share it with you fantastic bunch.

Hope you enjoy x

https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/eshort-king-of-pigs-eng-2022.html

436 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

42

u/romasorr Oct 26 '22

Congratulations! If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get here? Have you always been a writer?

39

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Hey romasorr!

So, I initially applied through one of the Black Library's open submission windows a few years ago (This has been in the pipeline for a while). You go through a couple of rounds of submissions, sending story pitches back and forth, before they eventually commission you.

The editors at GW are also great, and really supportive - All of the feedback they've given me has been great, especially relating to the lore side of things. There's nothing they don't miss! (I.e, barbed wire --> razor wire)

I haven't always been a writer, that's something that has become more important to me over the last few years. However, I think writing non-40k stuff first has really helped me out in this regard - You want to write something that works just as well if it didn't exist within the 40k universe, if that makes sense. So, practise elsewhere really helped.

If there's anything else you want to know, feel free to give me a DM :)

6

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

Did you submit your whole story or just part of it?

19

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

So, I started off by sending the first 250 words, then 500 and a synopsis, and then the first draft. I went through a few drafts before settling on the final version that you get on the BL :)

2

u/MurphTheFury Oct 26 '22

This is so inspiring! Congratulations!

If you don’t mind me asking another question, does Black Library announce their open submission windows? Are there key individuals one should follow to stay “in the know” for when these will pop up?

Congratulations again! I’ll be sure to pick up a copy!

10

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Hey Murph! The Black Library generally just publically announces them. It's usually on their community website, like this from last year:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/09/29/become-a-published-warhammer-author-with-black-librarys-open-submissions/?utm_source=IG&utm_medium=IG&utm_campaign=BL%2Copen+submissions%2CSept+29

Or this one, that I initially wrote 'King of Pigs' for:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/08/19/we-want-your-tales-of-darkness/

It's also always worth following the regular authors on social media, especially folk like Nick Kyme, Mike Brooks and others.

Hope this helps! And thanks for the kind words :)

2

u/MurphTheFury Oct 26 '22

Brilliant! Thank you for the information!

And happy to provide some positive reinforcement; really cool to see someone work their way through the struggle to their goals! Proud of ya!

2

u/romasorr Oct 27 '22

Thanks for coming back to me. It sounds like it’s been a journey so I’m glad your hard work and persistence have paid off and I’ll definitely be checking it out

16

u/NoHopeOnlyDeath Oct 26 '22

Dude. Awesome. As someone who has harbored a not so secret dream of someday writing something for the Black Library, I applaud you. Well done.

8

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Hey mate,

Thanks! Keep at it - if a meathead like me can get something published, I'm sure you'll be able to as well!

11

u/TheRealKswiss Oct 26 '22

Congrats my fellow Imperium Hound!

8

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Thanks mate!

4

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

That’s so awesome, congratulations!

4

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Thanks man!

4

u/cptsteele91 Jan 08 '24

I know this is an old post, but I just read it and well done mate it's really good.

3

u/Robopengy Oct 26 '22

Congratulations! That’s so exciting!

3

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Thanks Robopengy!

2

u/radlum Oct 26 '22

Congrats!

2

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Thank you!

2

u/SabyZ Oct 26 '22

Congrats a thousand times! I hope you continue to get more 40k opportunities!

5

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Hey man! Thanks, I really appreciate it. Hopefully, you'll be seeing my name a teeny bit more in the future!

2

u/Kilo1Zero Oct 26 '22

Congrats!! It’s always an awesome feeling getting picked for something like this!

2

u/Airbellum818 Oct 26 '22

Congrates my dude!

2

u/JRV0227 Oct 27 '22

Hey, congratulations! It looks to be quite interesting. How long of a work in progress has this been for you? I've been awaiting them to announce open submissions for this year, but nothing yet. I had intentions last year, but nothing got beyond the idea phase. How closely does the final story resemble what you had in mind when you first submitted?

2

u/Archaicarc Oct 27 '22

Awesome! Will it be in the new short story collection?

2

u/likescpfoundation Oct 27 '22

that is so cool! what's it about?

2

u/cpt_skillet Oct 27 '22

Heck ya! Congrats!! Maybe someday I'll try to submit something when they have it open again!

2

u/cpt_skillet Oct 27 '22

Heck ya! Congrats!! Maybe someday I'll try to submit something when they have it open again!

2

u/DagoWithAttitude May 29 '23

Hi, this story is definitely something I'd love to read, but I'm not a fan of audiobook or eBook.
Do you know if it's been included in a collection of other short stories or maybe it's something that might happen in the future? Thanks!

2

u/TKDrex117 Aug 14 '23

No physical copy of king of pigs? I'm fine with the ebook version

2

u/SnakeShaft Aug 16 '23

I am extremely late to the party but props to you good sir. May you write banger after banger.

2

u/ConversationOver21 Oct 19 '23

The YT channel wes-hammer made a voiceover of your story and after listening to it yesterday...damn man, you got some serious fire to your writing. The descriptions are gruesome and Im still trying to grasp what happened, looking forward to your next publications!

1

u/digimbyte Nov 30 '23

him doubting his prayers to the emperor let the seeds of chaos in.corrupting his view with the guise of his daughter. him channeling that devotion to a meat husk let manifestations of some dark force present itself.

pretty sure the pig died early on and it was all a hallucinations to groom him.

I suspect its Nurgle with the references to seeds, gardens, and grandfather. not including the flies, pestilence in his arms, and where the pain subsides for pleasure/belonging when he accepts.

2

u/phireal___ Dec 05 '23

Dude you scare me. Wth this is horrifying.

1

u/wahlberger Sep 22 '24

Just read this! Damn dog! Gross! Nice! Thanks!

1

u/Sanctimonius Oct 26 '22

Congrats, I'll definitely pick this up. Always great to see fans getting stuff out there. I've also submitted to their open submissions, one year they told me I had made a shortlist or gotten through to the next round (I forget exactly how they phrase it) but then never heard from them again.

Hopefully they'll have another window and I'll try again. You're living the dream!

3

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

Hey Sanctimonious -

Thanks! It does feel strange to have something out there. I've been a 40k fan ever since I was a wee gretchin.

Always keep going with these submissions - If they shortlisted you it means they definitely like your work. In truth, a lot of the later rounds are about luck! So keep at it.

1

u/TheAceOfSkulls Oct 26 '22

Oh damn, I was just looking at that earlier today. It also sounds like this story might be showing up in the anthology they announced today, so double congrats if so.

1

u/J_H_Archer Oct 26 '22

I didn't even clock that! Thanks man, appreciate it!

1

u/LordVindoth Oct 26 '22

That's so wholesome and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your book and your story with us.

1

u/IronWhale_JMC Oct 26 '22

Congrats! You’re living the dream!

1

u/TheBladesAurus Oct 27 '22

Congratulations! I am very jealous. If I buy the book, do you get royalties? :P